Revenue, Forest Depts given 2-month deadline for forest land demarcation in Jammu division

Ziraat Times News Desk

JAMMU, SEPTEMBER 09: Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar on Wednesday reviewed the progress of forest land demarcation across Jammu Division and directed the Forest and Revenue Departments to complete the exercise within two months.

The meeting was attended by Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu, Senthil Kumar, Deputy Commissioners of Jammu Division, Conservators of Forests and Divisional Forest Officers. Officers stationed outside Jammu participated through virtual mode.

The Chief Conservator of Forests briefed the meeting on the status of demarcation and highlighted issues involving old and incomplete records, maps, boundary descriptions and Tatima in some forest areas.

According to the department, Jammu Division has 1,555 forest areas, of which around 215 have been identified as difficult forests requiring joint surveys by the Forest and Revenue Departments.

Around 24,000 additional boundary pillars are required to be installed in these forest areas, while nearly 25,000 boundary pillars have already been installed during the past three months, the meeting was informed.

District-wise schedule within a week

Reviewing the progress, Ramesh Kumar directed the Revenue and Forest authorities to undertake joint demarcation of forest lands on priority and ensure proper installation of boundary pillars following demarcation.

He directed the concerned departments to constitute coordinated field teams and maintain proper records of the exercise.

The Divisional Commissioner asked the concerned officers to finalise a district-wise schedule within one week in consultation with DFOs and Revenue officers.

The schedule will specify the areas to be covered, field teams, responsible officers, Range Officers and dates for field exercises.

He fixed a two-month deadline for completion of the demarcation exercise and directed all Deputy Commissioners and DFOs to adhere strictly to the schedule.

Field teams to be constituted locally

The Divisional Commissioner directed that the composition of field teams should be decided at the local level based on the sensitivity and complexity of each area.

Routine cases may be handled by suitable Revenue officials, including Naib Tehsildars, while Tehsildar-level officers may be associated with sensitive or complex cases requiring higher-level intervention.

Infrastructure and PARIVESH cases

Reviewing issues concerning forest land required for roads and other infrastructure projects, Ramesh Kumar directed officers to expedite cases involving alternate land and transfer proposals and take up pending matters with the concerned Deputy Commissioners.

He also directed DFOs to provide necessary guidance to departmental authorities for timely processing of cases on the PARIVESH Portal, particularly in uploading requisite information.

Minor issues, he said, should be resolved at the local level through proper coordination between the concerned departments.

The Divisional Commissioner termed the demarcation survey and installation of boundary pillars on forest lands a top priority, directing that installation of all required boundary pillars be completed by the end of this year.

He stressed the need for close coordination between the Revenue and Forest Departments, time-bound action and regular monitoring to ensure completion of the demarcation exercise within the stipulated two-month period.